Touchless Dialysis Interface Using Optical Gesture Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dialysis machine input devices require physical contact, which can compromise cleanliness and increase the risk of infection in medical environments, and they lack the ability to handle multiple or concurrent user inputs effectively.
Innovation Solution
A touchless input system using a combination of projectors and cameras to detect the location of a user's finger in three-dimensional space, allowing for the invocation of user interface elements on a dialysis machine's display without physical contact, and enabling multiple or concurrent gestures for enhanced interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If physical contact input devices are used, then ease of operation is improved, but cleanliness and infection risk are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based input devices with an optical system using projectors and cameras. The projector displays visual indicators on a surface, and the camera detects finger positions and gestures without physical contact, substituting mechanical interaction with optical field interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical intermediary system consisting of projectors and cameras that mediate between the user and the control system. The projector acts as an intermediary to provide visual feedback, while the camera serves as an intermediary to capture gesture information, eliminating direct mechanical contact.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional input devices are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to handle multiple concurrent inputs is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal input system that can detect multiple types of gestures (tapping, hovering, swiping) from multiple users simultaneously through the camera's field of view. The system processes various gesture types and positions through a single unified optical detection mechanism, enabling multi-functional input capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds spatial dimensionality to input detection by using the camera to capture three-dimensional gesture information including position, height above surface, and movement trajectory. This dimensional expansion allows differentiation between multiple concurrent inputs and various gesture types that traditional two-dimensional contact devices cannot distinguish.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system promotes cleanliness by eliminating the need for physical contact, reduces the risk of infection, and enhances user interaction capabilities by allowing for more distinct and complex control inputs, improving the overall usability and safety of dialysis machine operations.
Implementation Method 1
at least one projector...emit light
Implementation Method 2
at least one camera...receive input and determine a location
Data Source
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AI summary
A dialysis machine comprising: one or more processing units configured to transmit control data; a pump configured to pump medical fluid to and from a patient based at least in part on control data received from the processing unit; an electronic panel comprising: a display surface, and at least one panel control unit configured to cause the electronic panel to display at least one user interface element that can be invoked by a user; at least one projector; and at least one camera; wherein the one or more processing units are configured to: process input received by the camera, determine a location of a physical object in a field of view of the camera based on the processed input, determine, based on processed input received on at least one occasion, that the location of the physical object represents an invocation of the at least one user interface element displayed on the electronic panel, and determine the control data based on the processed input.